Chapter 73 - The Second Solo Kill

 

“…………………………..”

 

Despite being in the middle of a live commentary broadcast, Mitsuki was in a state of shock, her entire body devoid of strength. Just moments ago, she had been screaming to the point of her throat feeling torn apart, completely losing her composure.

 

The reason for this chaos was that moments ago, Lady Karlin was in a dire situation, falling under the hypnotic influence of the Hypnosis Bats.

 

Lady Karlin will be fine. She’ll definitely overcome it. Despite having such confidence in her mind, hypnosis is an extremely powerful abnormal state.

 

Moreover, encountering solo and unavoidable audio-induced hypnosis, repeated layering of effects, and the imminent attacks filled with murderous intent from the monsters closing in on Karlin made Mitsuki break her keyboard, screaming and shouting in panic as she watched the live broadcast.

 

But, in the end, it turned out to be a great exaggeration. Karlin effortlessly self-cancelled the hypnosis, annihilating the hypnotic audio with her immense voice. Acting as if it was no big deal, she continued to charge through the second layer of the dungeon.

 

[The suspicious streamer is holding a loud concert while progressing through the deep layers… Wait, is this actually happening!?]

[Newcomers are confused, lol.]

[Similar to the situation where the leaker was treated as a lunatic because no one believed the Hunter × Hnter text leaks.]

[Loud Concert (without a mic).]

[It’s like an upgraded version of Jajanken!]

[Well, Mitsuki-sama seems to have completely forgotten about live commentary and is in a daze, lol.]

[Forgetting live commentary was pretty much from the beginning…]

[Well, I had the same reaction as Mitsuki-sama, so I can’t help but laugh.]

[Well, for this time, it’s understandable. I was prepared for accidental broadcasts, thinking Karlin-sama was definitely done for!]

[As soon as Mitsuki-sama’s screams subsided, Karlin Ojou-sama’s noisy concert took over, lol!]

[The noise pollution medley by the young ladies is hilarious!]

 

Viewers, like Mitsuki, seemed relieved by Karlin’s triumphant progress. The earlier screams and pessimism were completely wiped away.

 

Some viewers were in awe of Karlin’s reckless hypnotic conquest, while others, who had come from the rapidly spreading information, expressed empathy with Mitsuki’s reactions. Peaceful comments flowed in both Karlin and Mitsuki’s live streams.

 

Mitsuki, still somewhat in a daze, stared at these comments for a while, finally letting out a sigh of relief.

 

“Phew… I’m really glad Lady Karlin is safe… But still…”

 

Perhaps still in a state of shock, she voiced the thoughts that came to her mind.

 

“Even though it practically didn’t work… Lady Karlin can be affected by hypnosis, huh? Interesting.”

 

[I reported it.]

[I reported it too.]

[I reported it.]

[Anti-Exploration Division, deploy!!!]

[This person is Honoka-sama.]

[This person is a friend of Honoka-sama.]

[Honoka-sama’s first job in the Anti-Exploration Division is to arrest Mitsuki-chan, huh?]

[Mitsuki-chan, being a pawn in someone else’s game, lol.]

[I’m disappointed in Mitsuki-chan, I’m quitting as a Shadow Wolf fan.]

 

“Wait!? No, it’s not like that, you know!?”

 

The relentless flood of reports flooded Mitsuki’s comment section. What a misunderstanding! What a false accusation!

 

“It’s just that I’m cautious about the possibility of an attack that could work on the flawless Lady Karlin being misused! In case of emergency, I would be presumptuous enough to protect her! That’s all! Why would it turn into such an indecent story!”

 

[Daily conduct (for the past few days), you know.]

[I mean, even in the last few hours alone, that’s the image that has been created.]

[No one wrote anything about misusing it!]

[Even though you didn’t write anything about misusing it, Mitsuki-sama seems to have imagined it.]

[The tone of her voice was ‘serious,’ after all.]

[This is the suspected streamer.]

[The suspected streamer Ojou-sama is increasing, lol.]

[Come to think of it, there were a lot of comments sympathizing with Mitsuki-sama’s reaction this time…]

[Oh, reinforcements?]

[Isn’t this misunderstanding!?]

[What a terrible misunderstanding!]

[I haven’t whispered anything about it, but… this is still vigilance, I guess.]

[If Saideffect-nii-san hasn’t whispered anything, isn’t this just a baseless accusation!]

 

￥10,000

Well, it’s like preaching to the Buddha, but hypnotism, despite its dream-like name, is essentially just a confusion spell! You can’t give convenient orders, and there’s a very high chance that you’ll be killed by Lady Karlin, who mistakes a mage for a monster! So let’s absolutely stop it, Mitsuki-sama!”

 

[This is a desire-covered Buddha, huh?]

 

“Wait, more importantly!”

 

Feeling like no matter what she says, it will be misunderstood, Mitsuki averted her gaze from the comment section that had entered into a misinterpretation mood and raised her voice.

 

“Lady Karlin seems to have already reached the deepest part of the second layer! It’s time for the boss battle!”

 

[Blatantly changing the subject, lol.]

[But, well, I guess it can’t be helped!?]

[Haaay! Lady Karlin is too fast!?]

[Isn’t this a ridiculous situation to be discussing obscene jokes!?]

[Normally, in a top clan party, clearing this layer would be extremely troublesome, as you would have to deal with other monsters while countering the Hypnosis Bats. The recital charging must have wiped out all the bats…]

[A walking MAP weapon?]

[It feels like the speed of clearing is more suited for a middle layer rather than a deep layer.]

[Clearing the second layer with a musical-like loud voice broadcast is just too elegant!]

 

“Ah, Lady Karlin has already arrived at the boss room! Although she started with getting hypnotized, it seems like it was an easy layer in the end!”

 

Karlin also declared the arrival at the boss room and ceased the loud voice she had been emitting until now.

 

[Haa… Lady Karlin’s recital conquest is finally over…! Did she seriously neutralize the deep layer hypnotic monster with just her loud voice!?]

[Um, Lady Karlin, is it possible that you can kill people with karaoke…?]

[Karaoke places would be blown away, please stop.]

[Soundproof panels about to explode.]

[Karaoke place: ‘Don’t come.’]

[Karaoke place: ‘Banned.’]

[But seriously, Lady Karlin, why is your voice not hoarse at all after screaming continuously like that!?]

[It’s the power of tea (random).]

[Like Shadow Wolf, high-level explorers not only have toughness but also increased natural healing abilities.]

[For someone of Lady’s class, damage to the throat probably heals as soon as it occurs, right?]

 

After Lady Karlin declared the second layer conquered, comments flooded both Mitsuki’s channel and Karlin’s channel. The suspicions about Mitsuki’s alleged misuse of hypnosis were quickly forgotten.

 

[Facing the second layer boss… I wonder what kind of monster it is.]

[If Lady Karlin, who two-shot the Storm Dragon, is here, it doesn’t matter what kind of monster comes! Hypnosis is no problem for Lady!]

[Lady Karlin, who forcefully broke through hypnosis, is not afraid of anything!]

[She’s going to crush the second layer boss just like this!]

[But you mustn’t let your guard down! On the contrary, considering that even the Storm Dragon was the first layer boss…]

[Rumors say that the Storm Dragon is usually the deep layer’s final boss, so…]

[Normal deep layers would have a final boss that would be the first layer boss in this case, right?]

[A competition between Lady Karlin and the deep layer boss—who’s crazier!]

[Isn’t it already obvious who will win?]

[At any rate, considering the monsters she has faced so far, we can’t afford to let our guard down!]

 

Despite Karlin’s reckless methods of trampling magical creatures in the deep layer, the comment section felt tense, reminding everyone that complacency was not an option.

 

“Now, let’s challenge the second layer boss!”

 

As Lady Karlin pushed open the heavy door with a light tone, contrasting with the tension in the comment section, a tremendous beastly roar resonated, shaking the dungeon.

 

[!?]

[Wow, is this a three-headed wolf!?]

[What a huge monster dog!]

[Huh!? Is this Cerberus!?]

[Wow, it’s a bothersome top-tier boss!… Oh, but wasn’t this supposed to be a lower layer boss?]

[Why is a lower layer boss the deep layer boss?]

 

The comment section was overwhelmed by the imposing appearance and roar of the deep layer boss. Amidst the numerous comments, there were quite a few voices of confusion.

 

Because, as many posts indicated, the three-headed giant wolf, known as Cerberus, was a boss that appeared in the lower layers.

 

Cerberus.

 

It was considered one of the strongest bosses in the lower layers, alongside the Venocraze.

 

Its high physical abilities, combined with the lack of blind spots due to multiple heads, made it formidable. The hellfire emitted from its three heads could swiftly melt even decent armor, turning explorers into ashes.

 

Moreover, its troublesome characteristic was its near-immortality. Without simultaneously severing all three heads, it would infinitely regenerate.

 

“Cerberus… a powerful boss monster, also known as the Solo Kill because you have to simultaneously cut off its heads to defeat it. However, as many posts suggest, this monster is a boss in the lower layers. Why is it here…”

 

As Mitsuki earnestly explained, she tilted her head.

 

But this was a high-difficulty deep layer.

 

There’s no way it could be just an ordinary Cerberus. As Mitsuki stared at the screen with serious eyes, the moment arrived.

 

“Garrurururururururururururururuuuurururu!!!”

 

The distorted figure of the grotesque giant wolf confronting Karlin wavered. Just when it seemed like that,

 

“Garuuaaaaah!”

 

“Guruaaaaah!”

 

“Goaaaaah!”

 

Its body split into three, and three giant wolves appeared in the boss room.

 

[Ha!?]

[Eh!?]

[What!?]

[It split!?]

 

“I see, that’s how it is.”

 

“Garoooooo!!!”

 

As the boss wolves split, they simultaneously launched an attack on Karlin, who was calmly observing the boss’s actions.

 

[Haa!?]

[Even with an overhead view, it’s a wolf over 5 meters tall, what!?]

[Compared to the lower Cerberus, its speed is incomparable!?]

[Until now, the battles were ridiculously fast, but fighting with three huge wolves intertwined, my head, dynamic vision, and the camera frame can’t keep up with anything!]

[Lady Karlin, you’re handling this chaotic battle effortlessly!?]

[But seriously, Cerberus splitting? No way…!?]

 

“This group’s vitality, I suppose I need to test it first.”

 

Karlin, too, likely envisioned the same possibility in her mind as some of the viewers.

 

“How dare you!!”

 

Doggong!!!!

 

Flowingly pulled from the item box, Karlin equipped the crude and super-heavy magical weapon, the Pile Bunker. Predicting the opponent’s movements with absolute precision, she avoided attacks as if she could see the future.

 

Taking advantage of a graceful rotation in the air, she used a powerful punch, which had easily defeated the Storm Dragon, to crush one of the heads of the boss wolf.

 

Then, running to crush the second head,

 

“Guruooooooo!”

 

The head-crushed boss wolf, recovering its head at an incredible speed, attacked like a zombie before fully recovering!

 

“As expected.”

 

Putting away the Pile Bunker and switching to the Gatling, Karlin uttered a confident voice.

 

“Similar to a regular Cerberus, it seems that we need to either cut off all heads simultaneously or crush them to defeat it.”

 

[Haaahhh!?]

[Is this a lie!?]

[This game is ridiculous!]

[Impossible!]

[Seriously, don’t mess with us. Cerberus was already troublesome in the lower layers, and now it’s powered up in the deep layer? Just leave the drop items and disappear!]

[There’s a explorer who seems to have struggled with Cerberus in the lower layers, lol.]

[Wait a minute, isn’t this cheating!?]

 

The comment section turned into an outcry at the insane nature of the deep layer boss. However, at the same time, Karlin had already made her next move.

 

“Now, let’s try… Fire!”

 

Dagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagagag!

 

A storm of magical bullets scattered in the boss room. Powerful and unparalleled barrages of bullets rained down on all three Cerberus heads, including individuals who had already recovered their heads or were keeping an odd distance from Karlin.

 

But in the next moment,

 

“Waooooon!”

 

The Cerberus that had kept its distance from Karlin howled. As Karlin’s magical bullets approached, they visibly dwindled… Dogogogogogogon!

 

The magical bullets simultaneously hit the Cerberus, but instead of blowing off their heads, they didn’t deal much damage.

 

[!?]

[Huh!?]

[Elegant Gatling isn’t working!?]

[No, this feeling…!?]

[Did the magical bullets just shrink!?]

 

“Garuuaaaaah!”

 

The following roar was the gunfire from the Cerberus that had kept a moderate distance from Karlin. Hellish condensed heat breath, comparable to a Dragon Cannon but not as specialized, was released in a straight line.

 

Juaaaaaaaaaaan!

 

Though not as powerful as the Dragon Cannon, the incredibly fast-released heat beam melted the dungeon walls without interruption and relentlessly attacked Karlin.

 

“Guruaaaaah!”

 

Furthermore, without fearing friendly fire, the Cerberus that rushed in for close combat, always engaging Karlin, continued its assault.

 

The three creatures coordinated from different positions, relentlessly attacking Karlin unilaterally.

 

“This is…!?”

 

Observing the high-speed battle, Mitsuki muttered as if groaning.

 

“I’m not sure if I can capture the details because the combat speed is too fast for me. But it seems like there’s a coordination between Cerberus A, which excels in close combat, Cerberus B, which excels in long-range artillery, and probably Cerberus C, which emits a roar that likely reduces the magical attacks of explorers. They maintain a formation in which they keep a certain distance from each other, avoiding simultaneous crushing of their heads, while also nullifying long-range magical attacks and gradually tormenting their prey—a hunting formation!”

 

[Uh…]

[Isn’t this like Cerberus but ten times more troublesome!?]

[I can’t even comprehend Mitsuki-chan’s commentary because it’s too much!]

[What? Is this impossible?]

[If it’s Karlin ojou-sama’s speed, there might be a chance… I thought, but these guys recover their heads too quickly, keep their distance, and can still fight even with their heads crushed!?]

[If your head is crushed, at least stay quiet until it recovers!]

[Hey, hey, Karlin ojou-sama, what are you going to do!?]

[Cerberus… Please, just die. Please don’t be born like you. The existence of scum like you makes my head go crazy.]

[Is this seriously impossible to solo!?]

 

“Hmm. I see. So, that’s the nature of it. If we try to crush the head of the one that reduces magical power, it’s likely that each of their abilities can be switched. In that case—”

 

And at that moment.

 

Contrasting the comments expressing resentment and resignation towards Cerberus, Karlin accelerated.

 

She raced through the boss room in all directions, relentlessly punching each of the Cerberus.

 

Hyun! Dogagagagan!

 

However, naturally, her fists were ineffective against Cerberus. Despite dealing serious damage to the deep-layer boss’s body with tremendous force, it was quickly healed.

 

Guruaaaaa!

 

On the contrary, the attacks intensified with the enraged Cerberus, and there was no sign of a counterattack as the three creatures maintained their formation, keeping a certain distance from Karlin.

 

Rather, scenes of intensified attacks increased, and it seemed like Karlin put herself at a disadvantage with unnecessary provocation.

 

[Karlin ojou-sama, what happened!?]

[Are you being reckless!?]

[Because it’s Karlin ojou-sama, she must have some plan, right!?]

[No, but this is not just a waste of effort!]

[Maybe the only way is to disrupt their coordination by creating chaos!]

[Isn’t it better to retreat instead of sticking around!?]

[I got it! Let’s modify the Elegant Gatling with the materials from the Lifehead Dragon! If we can install that power, even if it’s reduced, it should work!]

 

Naturally, voices expressing expected reactions to Karlin’s actions gathered.

 

And then, in the next moment.

 

“—There it is.”

 

Kin!

 

A high-pitched sound faintly rang out.

 

It was the sound of Karlin, who had jumped into the air, pulling out the renowned sword Mongolian Death Worm from the item box, unsheathing it simultaneously, and completing the action with a sound that went unnoticed by anyone. The small clinking indicated that she had sheathed it after slashing and killing the opponent.

 

And as a few of the viewers were about to type, “Eh, what was that sound?”

 

“Kaaaa—!?”

 

The heads of the Cerberus, lined up in a straight line for an instant due to Karlin’s induced movements, were simultaneously cut off and fell to the ground.

 

[Huh?]

[Eh?]

[Huh?]

 

The battle that had just been raging moments ago fell silent in the boss room, and the comment section also became dumbfounded.

 

But as the motionless bodies of the Cerberus, their heads cut off and not moving even an inch, remained on the screen for about 10 seconds, the silence exploded into an uproar.

 

[Wait, what happened!?]

[The nuisance boss is dead!]

[Eh, wait, seriously? What did Karlin ojou-sama do!?]

[Eh, something was unsheathed around her waist, but did she really cut them?]

[Even though Cerberus kept quite a distance between each other, why did all their heads fly off in an instant!?]

[Karlin ojou-sama, please, what did you do? Everyone is frozen because we don’t know what happened!]

[Is this not a fake!?]

[What’s going on!?]

 

“This, this is…!? Judging by the positions of Cerberus’s corpses, they were cut off at the moment they aligned in a straight line… with the Mongolian Death Worm…!? In the midst of that ultra-fast melee, she induced and predicted the opponent’s movements…!?”

 

As Mitsuki, still momentarily speechless like the viewers, began to explain or perhaps just process what had just happened, the comment section erupted into a frenzy of disbelief.

 

In a manner that affirmed and supplemented Mitsuki’s words, Karlin continued,

 

“When slashing monsters through dungeon walls or something like that, Mongolian Death Worm-chan has such sharpness that when you unsheath it using the technique taught by Mitsuki-sama, the slashing attack reaches far beyond the blade. It’s like a flying slash! However, it can only send slashes forward, so I provoked and guided Cerberus-sama’s movements, predicted the moment they lined up in a straight line, and slashed through them!”

 

[……?]

[…………………………..?]

[???????????????????????]

[(Aah~! The sound that my brain refuses to understand!)]

[Please, ojou-sama, I wish you’d speak in Japanese, not in ojou-sama language…]

[Um, well… eh… Seriously, you aimed for that in the midst of that high-speed melee?]

[Huh, are you saying this seriously…?]

[I, who confidently wrote that it’s impossible solo, am now in shame and fear, my heart is in a dangerous state.]

[Solo killer (excluding ojou-sama).]

[Ojou-sama is a one-versus-billion, so technically, it’s not solo! (hallucinating)]

[This ojou-sama is way too over-the-top, lol.]

[By the way, I had a vague sense of it, but isn’t the performance of Death Worm-chan crazy…?]

[Um… Death Worm-chan, it’s definitely not made from materials from the lower layers, right…?]

 

And as the comment section fell into silence and almost everyone expressed their disbelief, Karlin continued with a camera glance.

 

“However, this tactic would not have been possible without the idea of making a sword. In other words, it’s a short-term settlement brought about by my encounter with Mitsuki-sama! Mitsuki-sama! Thank you very much!”

 

“Hu…!?”

 

While waving her hands and smiling, Karlin’s unexpected long-range one-hit kill fan service left Mitsuki clutching her heart in agony.

 

An indescribable strange sound escaped her, and she was knocked out again.

 

Black Tiger’s current information asset loss amount—20 billion.

 

Time until Mitsuki’s reboot—10 minutes.